The WHO Private Organizations for Patient Safety platform, a collaboration between the WHO and a consortium of 15 companies involved in the development, manufacture or distribution of hand hygiene products, will work to increase hand hygiene compliance in healthcare facilities around the world through three key areas: Research, education and system change, the release stated.

According to the release, the consortium will share information, align promotional messaging for hand hygiene products with WHO recommendations and encourage product availability and accessibility in all parts of the world.

"Ecolab is committed to improving patient safety, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with leading experts to reduce HAIs and help ensure that hospitals are healthy places to heal," said Timothy Mulhere, executive vice president and president of global healthcare at Ecolab.

"Our experienced field team will be able to share best practices and project outcomes of the collaboration with our customers and also provide regional feedback and suggestions to the global consortium," Mulhere added.